"A Pterodroma arcing over the horizon is the epitome of the untamed ocean realm. They are just the classic seabird." - Don Roberson

Parkinson's Petrel

Parkinson's Petrel breeds on islands off New Zealand and migrates ne to tropical waters of the e pacific. First CA record photographed 1 Oct 2005 near the Cordell Bank Marin as it foraged with Pink-footeds and Sooties (Hamilton, et al, 2007).

Murphy's Petrel

Murphy’s Petrel Uncommon to rare spring visitor in shallow waters over the continental shelf. A routine visitor mid-April through early June well offshore (Hamilton, et al, 2007). One well seen by many from the Condor Express on 1 May 2010 and 15 seen from a research ship in mid-April 2010 just north of Point Conception. Sightings from Searcher include 66 on 18-20 April 2003, 25 on 25-27 Apr 2003 (Searcher Trip Reports, 2003 - 2007), 9 on 15 April 2005 from Searcher just northwest of San Miguel Island, one on 16 Apr 2005 from Searcher between San Nicholas Island and the Tanner Bank(McCaskie & Garrett, 2005 and Searcher Trip Reports). In 2005 sightings in California and Oregon persisted through November. One recorded in September 2005 from Searcher (McGrath & Feenstra, 2005).

2010: In mid-April (Apr 4-16) the NOAA research ship Miller Freeman sailed transects from San Diego to approx 200 miles out, then 40 miles north, working its way back to nearshore, then 40 miles north, and out.... all the way to Monterey. 805 Cook's Petrels and 15 Murphy's Petrels were recorded. Three 3 Dark-rumped (presumably Hawaiian) Petrels were seen on that trip 184-294 km offshore (NAB, McCaskie & Garret). On 1 May 2010 the Condor Express chartered by the Los Angeles Audubon, recorded 63 Cook’s Petrels and one Murphy’s Petrel.

2011: 1 was seen between Santa Barbara and the Rodriguez Dome from the Condor Express on Apr 30.

Murphy's Petrel (c) Matt Sadowski

Murphy's Petrel (c) Matt Sadowski

Great-winged Petrel

Great-winged Petrel Has only been recorded twice in ABA waters, both times in California – over the Cordell Bank July 21, 1996 and in Monterey Bay October 18. 1998 (Sullivan, 2005). This species is thought to visit California waters on occasion (Roberson, 2001).

2006: One photographed 6 April off San Nicholas Island at a season when the Mottled Petrel has occurred previously far offshore (Heindel & Garrett, 2008). This record received support from a majority of the CBRC in every round of votes, but others withheld their support because of the brevity and distance of the sighting, along with the fact that the normally conspicuous dark carpal bar on the underwing was not seen. (Western Birds: Vol 41, No. 3).

2008: Twenty far off the California coast (150 - 200 miles) during seabird surveys from the NOAA ship McArthur II in Oct/Nov. In addition to these birds, the same research cruise recorded many more of this species more than 200 n. mi. offsore. Although the CBRC has accepted only 79 for California, past records also indicate that this species occurs in relatively large numbers in some years. (Western Birds: Vol 41, No. 3).

Mottled Petrel - Buena Vista Audubon archives

Mottled Petrel (c) Ryan J Merrill

Hawaiian Petrel

Hawaiian (Dark-rumped) Petrel could be seen anytime April – September over deep water (McGrath & Feenstra 2005). 17 of 21 accepted records in the state (through 2006) are mid-July to mid-September (Heindel & Garrett, 2008). O

2008: Three sightings off Ft Bragg Aug 8 involved at least 2 individuals. Several members of the CBRC believe that the photos represent Hawaiian Petrels - more details in Western Birds: Vol 41, No. 3.

2010: In mid-April (Apr 4-16) the NOAA research ship Miller Freeman sailed transects from San Diego to approx 200 miles out, then 40 miles north, working its way back to nearshore, then 40 miles north, and out.... all the way to Monterey. 805 Cook's Petrels and 15 Murphy's Petrels were recorded. Three 3 Dark-rumped (presumably Hawaiian) Petrels were seen on that trip 184-294 km offshore (NAB, McCaskie & Garret).

Hawaiian Petrel Searcher 2006 (c) Steve N.G. Howell

Hawaiian Petrel Searcher 2006 (c) Steve N.G. Howell

Cook's Petrel

Cook’s Petrel Nests off New Zealand and disperses to the North Pacific. Species regular off northern Baja, Mexico (Howell & Webb, 1995) and in the California Current mostly from April to November (Howell et al, 1996). Regular in ABA waters well offshore near the interface between the warm waters of the North Pacific and the cold waters of the California Current (Roberson, D. & Bailey, S.F., 1991). Records from April – Nov, peaking June - August. Seen fairly regularly from Searcher since 2003 when deep water charter expeditions began. Two were seen from Searcher 25-26 Apr 2003 in deep water near and south of the San Juan Seamount, (1) from Searcher 23 Apr 2004 near San Juan Seamount. One 10 Sep 2005 at the Cortez Bank (NAB, McCaskie & Garrett).

2007: One 9 May near Cordell Bank from a NOAA research ship (pers comm, L.Sheffield). Dozens seen by Searcher crew on fishing trips June - August in deep water off the Baja and San Diego Coast, (e.g. "several" on 25 July 2007 at US/Mexico border; unspecified number 12 Aug in US waters). Two near the Sixty Mile Bank 16 Aug from Searcher (Searcher Blog, 2007).

2009: 3 on 10 May from Grande deep water pelagic: 2 near the shelf-edge and 1 near the Butterfly Bank. 136 from Condor Express off the San Juan Seamount 25 Jul.

2010: In mid-April (Apr 4-16) the NOAA research ship Miller Freeman sailed transects from San Diego to approx 200 miles out, then 40 miles north, working its way back to nearshore, then 40 miles north, and out.... all the way to Monterey. 805 Cook's Petrels and 15 Murphy's Petrels were recorded. Three 3 Dark-rumped (presumably Hawaiian) Petrels were seen on that trip 184-294 km offshore (NAB, McCaskie & Garret). On 1 May 2010 the Condor Express chartered by the Los Angeles Audubon, recorded 63 Cook’s Petrels and one Murphy’s Petrel. 173 from Grande May 15-16. 237 from Condor Express Jun 12. 2 from Condor Express 31 Jul. One from Searcher Sep 9.

Cook's Petrel (c) Matt Sadowski

Cook's Petrel (c) Dave Pereksta

Stejneger's Petrel

Stejneger’s Petrel Nests on the Juan Fernandez Islands off Chile, possibly migrating in a clockwise loop north, passing east of Japan, then back south through the eastern Pacific and offshore California Oct – Nov (Sullivan, 2005).

Accepted records: Only 6 accepted records of Stejneger's Petrel in California (4 Nov, 2 July) with three records for our region, one in November, two in July. All SoCal records 150 - 190 nmi sw of San Miguel Island (Hamilton, et. al, 2007). Thought to be most likely at San Juan Seamount (McGrath, T., pers comm).

Record not accepted: One Stejneger's photographic record from Moss Landing Monterey 4 May 2003. Steve N.G. Howell reviewed the photos and maintained it was a Stejneger's Petrel, however acceptance by the records committee was complicated when a second-hand report relayed that the observer thought the bird was approximately the size of a large shearwater, clearly too large for a Cookilaria. The photos were blurry, and the observer wrote no description. California's six previous Stejneger's Petrels have been at least 60 n miles from shore and in July (2) or November (4).

2010: One recorded 147 km southwest of Pt Conception from a NOAA research ship on Apr 14 (NAB, McCaskie & Garret).

Stejneger's Petrel (c) Peter Hodum

Stejneger's Petrel (c) Peter Hodum

Bulwer's Petrel

Bulwer’s Petrel Nests on Hawaiian Islands. The committee has accepted only one of the three following reports - that of a well-documented bird in Monterey Bay Jul 26, 1998.

2007: One photographed in the Santa Barbara Channel Sep 5, (NAB, McCaskie & Garrett) is thought to be a Bulweria. The record received substantial support as this species during the first round, but the poor quality of the photos and doubts about the size of the bird persuaded an "Identification Not Established" vote from a majority.

Bulwer's Petrel (c) Göran Ekström

Bulwer's Petrel (c) Göran Ekström

SOURCES:

Many sightings contain hyperlinks tied directly to detailed Trip Reports. More frequent sightings may not contain hyperlinks, but still have detailed trip reports with more documentation and locations; click on Trip Reports in the left column.

NAB, Erickson, et al: North American Birds - Baja Mexico reports, edited by Erickson, et al. Published quarterly by the American Birding Association.

NAB, McCaskie & Garrett: North American Birds - Southern California reports, edited by Guy McCaskie and Kimball Garrett. Published quarterly by the American Birding Association.